Taking a car from the US to Canada for repairs. Customs needed?

[Paul K]

All:

If I take a car into Canada to have work done on it, do I need any customs forms/permits when I bring it back to the USA? I’m planning to take this up to Canada to get the engine hooked up & have it completely re-wired. Basically because there’s a shop there that’s familiar with the engine I’m putting in it & I can’t find anyone in the PNW that does. So it’ll go in as a non-runner but come back running. It’ll be trailered both ways & will have US registration, but probably not license plates yet.



FWIW, it had a 998cc single carb engine when I got it, but the one going in is a 1300 efi. From 39bhp & a 4-speed (which actually felt quite spritely, mostly due to low weight) to 62bhp & automatic. The engine will already be in the car when it goes to Canada.

Any advice/experience with this?

Please don’t unleash the Kraken on me for going to an auto. This will be the wife’s (yes, she knows how to drive a stick) car when we move to St. Thomas. Very steep hills, stop & go driving & a max speed on island of 35mph. Very hard on clutches. No, the Honda VTec auto won’t fit. Nor will anything else I can find.

Cheers,

Paul.

[asphaltgambler]

Thinking that you would have the registration with you, proof of ownership. I don't see what else you would need as you're taking across border, but then bringing it back.

[93nav]

What motor and transmission is going in it. Just curious.

[1990C4S]

You will definitely need paperwork if you aren't driving it.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily.html#_Declaring_a_vehicle

You need to call Transport Canada, or use an agency to import/export it.

Driving it in is dead easy....once the border is open.

[TimT]

Make sure you have the title with you..

We bring unregistered (race cars) cars back and forth across the border a few time a year..as long as the title is with the car (owner need not be) you should be good to go..

We get hassled more coming back into the states... than leaving.

Once we had a race car built on a salvage chassis, and didn't have the title.. Our fellow citizens, CBP agents treated us like we were criminals, they were going to make us leave the car in the siezed goods area.. and they made us unoad part of the trailer and generally treated us as guilty of something...

We were kept at the Watertown crossing overnight. a serious pain in the ass...

Of all the paperwork you think you need to bring the title

The title is most important

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by TimT

We get hassled more coming back into the states... than leaving.

Drove to a race in Newfoundland from the States right when Trump dumped some crap on Canada about tariffs in fall of 2018. All paperwork. Passports, title to race car, itinerary for 20 days.

Took a ferry to Nova Scotia from Maine. Canadian customs beat us to death. Five agents opening luggage in the truck cab, opened trailer and walked through that, opening tool boxes drawers and peering into the race car, up with the truck cap and ferreting through luggage and spares for a good 30 minutes.

"Have a nice trip" they said.

Return to Maine was through New Brunswick. US agent said laughing, let me see inside the trailer in case you have a bunch of Canadians in there. Asked about how we finished. He looked lonely.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by 93nav

What motor and transmission is going in it. Just curious.

1300 efi from a Japanese import 1998 Mini.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

You will definitely need paperwork if you aren't driving it.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily.html#_Declaring_a_vehicle

You need to call Transport Canada, or use an agency to import/export it.

Driving it in is dead easy....once the border is open.

Thanks!

[911_Dude]

Isnt the border closed for now?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by 911_Dude

Isnt the border closed for now?

Not to truck traffic. General tourism, yes.

Also, if you really want to go into Canada, say to go fishing out west, you tell customs you are driving to Alaska. You will be allowed entry.

[s_morrison57]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Not to truck traffic. General tourism, yes.

Also, if you really want to go into Canada, say to go fishing out west, you tell customs you are driving to Alaska. You will be allowed entry.

C4S, I'm not a custom's agent but encouraging people to lie to Customs to gain entry isn't what I'd call good advice. Is this how you got into Canada? You sound like a real Richard head and not a good Canadian kid by even the lowest of standards.

Finn

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by 911_Dude

Isnt the border closed for now?

Yes, I believe so. But I’m a couple of months out so hopefully it’ll be open by the time she’s ready.

[1990C4S]

You need to read more. It's an ongoing scam, hardly novel, hardly new.

Not that it is even remotely any of your business, but I got into Canada as an impoverished student from Africa; thank God there are real Canadians like you to educate me. :rolleyes

[smadsen]

Canadian friend of mine bought a Formula Ford in the U.S. many years ago. He called the Canadian Border Patrol several time to make sure he had all the correct paperwork, forms, taxes & duties paid, picture i.d., bill of sale, etc. It took him 36 hours to get through the gate and back into his home country.

[ZOO]

I miss the days of friendly border crossings -- either going into the US, or returning to Canada.